Terrifier 2 2022

Movie · 138 min · English · August 29, 2022

Comedy horror Slasher Supernatural horror Halloween

Directed by Damien LeoneWritten by Damien Leone

Starring Lauren LaVera, David Howard Thornton, Elliott Fullam, Sarah Voigt, Kailey Hyman

Terrifier 2 is a 2022 American independent supernatural slasher film directed, written, edited, and co-produced by Damien Leone. It serves as the sequel to Terrifier (2016) and continues the second chapter of the Terrifier film series. The movie brings back David Howard Thornton and Samantha Scaffidi, who played Art the Clown and Victoria Heyes in the first film, while introducing Lauren LaVera, Elliott Fullam, Sarah Voigt, Kailey Hyman, and Casey Hartnett in new roles. The story centers on Art’s return and his relentless hunt for teenage Sienna Shaw (LaVera) on Halloween night, after she learns that her fate is to defeat him.

The origins of the film began with a feature-length concept developed by Leone shortly after completing his first short film The 9th Circle in 2008. That initial idea involved an angel-dressed heroine, but eventually changed direction. After the release of the original, Leone intended to revisit that character, who became Sienna, whom he described as the “heart and soul” of Terrifier 2. To address criticism about the first film’s weak plot, Leone spent three months crafting a screenplay with deeper character development.

Securing funding proved difficult due to the expanded ambitions of the script and higher production costs. Leone obtained financial support from private investors and Scotty Gelt Productions before filming began, and initiated an Indiegogo campaign targeting $50,000. The campaign exceeded expectations, surpassing 430% of its original goal, raising a total of $250,000.. The project was also affected by the global pandemic; principal photography was suspended in mid-2020 because of lockdowns related to COVID-19.

Terrifier 2 premiered at FrightFest on August 29, 2022, followed by a theatrical release in the U.S. on October 6 through Cinedigm. Critics generally responded positively, especially praising LaVera and Thornton’s performances, although some noted the film's length. Many viewed it as an improvement over the first installment. A follow-up, Terrifier 3, was released in October 2024.